Dalai Lama calls for peaceful solution to Rohingya crisis in Myanmar

By Lobsang Tenchoe

September 11: His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed his concern over Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and urged Aung San Suu Kyi to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.

The Tibetan Nobel laureate is said to have written a letter to his fellow Noble laureate and Myanmar’s state counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi.

“I appeal to you and your fellow leaders to reach out to all sections of society to try to restore friendly relations throughout the population in a spirit of peace and reconciliation,” a report by Hindustan Times quoted the Tibetan spiritual leader as saying in his letter.

Almost 3 lakh minority Rohingya Muslims are said to have fled the violence-hit Rakhine state where Myanmar’s army has allegedly launched a crackdown following a raid by militants on August 25.

Saddened by the violence endured by the Rohingya Muslims, the Dalai Lama remarked that Lord Buddha would have definitely helped the Rohingyas.

“Lord Buddha would have definitely helped the Rohingyas. Those people, you see, sort of harassing some Muslims. Then they should remember, Buddha, in such circumstances, would have definitely helped those poor Muslims,” His Holiness was quoted as saying in the report.

Aung San Suu Kyi has courted much scrutiny lately over her inaction in response towards the plight of her nation’s minority Rohingya Muslim population. The Tibetan Spiritual leader is the third fellow Nobel laureate after Malala Yousafzai and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to speak critically about the Myanmar leader.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is currently on a 21-day visit to European countries – UK, Germany, Italy and Latvia – for a series of public talks, teachings, conferences and symposiums.